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Thursday, 28 March 2013

Sleeping Dictionary

Have you ever watched the film “Sleeping Dictionary”? I
believe most of us have watched it especially when Jessica Alba is the star of
the film. Before I continue let me refresh your mind with the synopsis of the
story (taken from IMDb.com)

John Truscott goes to Borneo to work
with the Iban. He reports to Henry Bullard, who gives him a "sleeping
dictionary"--one of the locals who teaches him the local language and
culture. And who he gives John is Selima. And while teaching him, John finds himself
attracted to her. And we says it's not allowed, both the locals and Bullard
forbid him to be in a relationship with Selima. But he defies them which has
dire consequences. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

An eager young Englishman is
dispatched to Sarawak to become part of the British colonial government,
encounters some unorthodox local traditions, and finds himself faced with tough
decisions of the heart involving the beautiful young Selima, the unwitting
object of his affections. Written by Anonymous

In 1936, the expatriated young and
naive just-graduated British John Truscott arrives to the Sarawak, a British colony,
to work in the Iban society. The beautiful Selima is assigned to be his
"sleeping dictionary", to live and sleep with him and teach him the
language and habits of the locals. The reluctant John and Selima fall in love
for each other in a forbidden romance.
Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A rousing question has been occupying my mind for quite a
while after watching the film Sleeping Dictionary. Did we (Iban community) ever
practice or even have the idea of a sleeping dictionary? It really boggles me.

In a way, “Sleeping Dictionary” is a beautiful love story or
forbidden romance of an Englishman and Iban woman during that period of time,
but I doubt that it would be to such extent that you ‘sleep’ with an woman just
to learn the language and go about your mission to doctrine the Iban community
of English ways. As I was watching this movie there were also some Iban words that
I never came across with (the scene where
Selima (Jessica Alba) teaching Truscott the body parts in Ibanlanguage).

I had a love and hate relationship with this movie.

I loved
the way the idea of a forbidden love story depicted in an Iban community as the
setting. Lush and mysterious jungle, traditional longhouse not forget to mention the macho Belansai and the beautiful Iban regalia displayed throughout the film.

However, what I do not like was the way an Iban woman depicted as a sleeping
dictionary to an Englishman as it looks as though it downgrades the dignity of the
Iban women.

I hope the elderly can answer my doubt whether it a Sleeping
Dictionary does exist in the Iban community or it is just as a means of selling
this film.I do not want to be denial, I just want to know the truth....

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I watched this movie too. Love the Iban culture side but not the girl that "nganjong paong empa jani".

It is common among English to think that to learn other languages, you got to sleep with one of those native speakers.

Did the sleeping dictionary exist?Well, I guess not. However, one aya told us that while he was in the government service, it was common for tuai rumah or the family where one stays during travelling to rural longhouses be offered to sllep iniside their daughter's room but please don't be mistaken for the purpose because the receiving family would like to take care of the anak temuai like they take care of their own daughter. If the anak temuai is to take advantage of the hospitality without any responsibility, jaga dek. Bisi undang-undang rumah panjai wai.

It may be true that the parents of the daughter offer or permit a chance to the guest to ngayap (court) his daughter but ngayap is originally supposed to be for marriage purposes, not for merrymaking or just to have fun.

You can ask some retired civil servants about their reception and welcome in longhouses in the old days.

In this movie, the girl (Jessica Alba) is like ngajong paong empa jani to the guy while there is a clear rule separating dara and bujang living in longhouses. She looks like to fancy a Brit so much! Hoever, it is a misrepresentation of the Iban culture. A formal complaint may be lodged to correct this mistake.

I also have read all those old books written by Europenas about Ibans and Sarawak but none said about this sleeping dictionary.

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